Multi-Core Radio’s Flexible Operating Modes
Ceragon’s multi-core radio technology is inherently versatile and suitable for many different deployment scenarios. Multiple cores can be activated remotely for optimized performance in myriad applications to fit virtually any backhaul, fronthaul or other deployment scenario at far higher capacities than ever before. Its versatility makes it highly useful and cost-efficient in the dynamic HetNet.
The Basis
To illustrate the many advantages of multi-core technology, consider a generic, 1+0 single-core radio with high performance in terms of capacity, link distance and antenna size.
Multi-core technology can operate with just one active core where it will have similar parameters to the standard, but will provide additional capacity due to the high modulation in which it operates (2048QAM) and header compression techniques, and additional system gain due to the advanced in-house RF chipset. Turning on a second core opens up a world of possibilities enabling it to perfectly match the requirements of a variety of deployment scenarios, as explained below.
Doubling the capacity
Remotely turning on the second core automatically provides twice the bandwidth (and with it, capacity) of the single-core radio (whether we use an adjacent frequency channel or the same one with orthogonal polarization, i.e., XPIC). This significant capacity boost is achieved without compromising system gain or availability since it comes about from the use of an additional carrier at the same modulation and same Tx power and Rx sensitivity. No additional hardware is required, and the increased capacity is delivered using the same small form-factor system. Effectively, it is a pure doubling of capacity without any trade-offs.
Doubling the link distance
Ceragon’s multi-core radio can also be leveraged to increase link distance. FibeAir IP-20C splits the bitstream between its two cores using Multi-carrier Adaptive Bandwidth Control, which, in turn, makes possible a lower modulation scheme that significantly increases system gain (both higher Tx power and lower Rx sensitivity). Higher system gain contributes to longer signal distance, thus, the multi-core radio can achieve longer link spans, and can even double the link distance using the same hardwave (radio and antenna).
For example, let’s consider a case where the multi-core radio, in 1+0 configuration (only one core is activated), transmits 260Mbps over a 28MHz channel with 2048QAM modulation. Activating the second core makes it possible to reduce the modulation to 64QAM and yet transmit more capacity: 280Mbps (2 X 140Mbps over the 28 MHz channel). Reducing the modulation from 2048QAM to 64QAM also delivers a 4dB improvement in Tx power and a 15dB improvement in Rx sensitivity – yielding an overall increase in system gain of 19dB. With this improved system gain, we can double the distance of the link and, at the same time, enjoy an additional 20Mbps in overall capacity.
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